System and method for providing customized toll pricing

Abstract

A method performed by a server for providing incentives on toll prices to one or more users of a plurality of users. The method includes receiving a first plurality of traffic inputs, a second plurality of toll inputs, and a third plurality of user associated inputs. The method further includes identifying one or more decision areas on the road network based on the first plurality of traffic inputs and second plurality of toll inputs. Thereafter, the method includes determining one or more users approaching the one or more decision areas, based on the geo-locations of the plurality of users, and then determining a probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road. In response to the determination, the method includes calculating incentives on the toll prices, and transmitting the incentive to the one or more users at respective one or more decision areas.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A platform for providing incentives on toll prices to one or more users of a plurality of users, the platform comprising:
 a transceiver configured to:
 receive a first plurality of traffic inputs that comprises one or more of: historical traffic information of a road network, real time traffic information of the road network, information associated with real time events, and throughput of one or more toll roads on the road network; 
 receive a second plurality of toll inputs that comprises one or more of: real time and historical toll prices for the one or more toll roads on the road network, historical incentives on the toll prices offered at the one or more toll roads to the plurality of users; and 
 receive a third plurality of user associated inputs that comprises geo-locations of the plurality of users and one or more of: historical travel and driving patterns of the plurality of users on the road network, information on at least one of historical toll and incentives accepted by the plurality of users, user demographics, decision history of the plurality of users taking the one or more toll roads with or without incentives on toll prices, and an information of socio-economic status of the plurality of users; and 
   a processor configured to:
 identify one or more decision areas in real time on the road network based on the first plurality of traffic inputs, wherein the decision areas are regions on the road network from where the plurality of users can enter at least one toll road of the one or more toll roads; 
 determine one or more users, of the plurality of users, approaching the one or more decision areas, based on the geo-locations of the plurality of users; 
 determine a probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road, based on the first plurality of traffic inputs, the second plurality of toll inputs, and the third plurality of user associated inputs; 
 calculate incentives on the toll prices to be offered to the one or more users to modify the probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road, wherein the incentives are calculated based on the first plurality of traffic inputs, the second plurality of the toll inputs, and the third plurality of user associated inputs; 
   wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the calculated incentives to the one or more users when the one or more users are at the respective one or more decision areas.   
     
     
         2 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the incentives comprise at least one of increasing the toll prices, decreasing the toll prices, providing round trip discounts, and providing non-monetary benefits. 
     
     
         3 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the identification of the one or more decision areas comprises:
 determine traffic source and traffic sink based on the first plurality of traffic inputs;   determine a plurality of entrance points, exit points, and toll road locations from where traffic from the traffic source and traffic sink meet the one or more toll roads;   determine congestion levels at the plurality of entrance points, exit points and the toll road locations based on the first plurality of traffic inputs; and   select one or more entrance points, exit points and toll road locations which fulfils a predetermined criteria, as the one or more decision areas.   
     
     
         4 . The platform of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically update the one or more decision areas based on the first plurality of traffic inputs and driving patterns of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         5 . The platform of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a database of one or more of: the historical and real time decision areas, toll road geometry of the road network, toll locations on the road network, the plurality of first traffic inputs, the second plurality of toll inputs, and the third plurality of user associated inputs, and wherein the database is dynamically updated at a predefined time period. 
     
     
         6 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive historical incentives offered at the one or more decision areas, and the processor is further configured to determine the probability of the one or more users taking the at least toll road based on the historical incentives offered at the one or more decision areas. 
     
     
         7 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the calculation of the incentives is further based on incentive inputs received from one or more tolling agencies, and current and historical revenues of the respective tolling agency. 
     
     
         8 . The platform of  claim 7 , wherein the platform is further configured to:
 determine an event of the one or more users selecting the at least one toll road based on the transmitted incentives;   transmit information associated with the event to the respective tolling agency;   verify the event with the respective tolling agency; and   perform a payment of toll prices including incentives to the respective tolling agency from the one or more accounts associated with the one or more users, based on the verification of the event.   
     
     
         9 . The platform of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit information associated with the incentives selected by the one or more users, to the respective tolling agency based on the determination of the event. 
     
     
         10 . The platform of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit information associated with the incentives offered to the one or more users and the calculated probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road to the respective tolling agency. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing incentives on toll prices to one or more users of a plurality of users, the method comprising:
 receiving a first plurality of traffic inputs that comprises one or more of: historical traffic information of a road network, real time traffic information of the road network, information associated with real time events, and throughput of one or more toll roads on the road network;   receiving a second plurality of toll inputs that comprises one or more of: real time and historical toll prices for one or more toll roads on the road network, historical incentives on the toll prices offered at the one or more toll roads to the plurality of users;   receiving a third plurality of user inputs that comprises geo-locations of the plurality of users and one or more of: historical travel and driving patterns of the plurality of users on the road network, information on at least one of historical toll and incentives accepted by the plurality of users, user demographics, decision history of the plurality of users taking the one or more toll roads with or without incentives on toll prices, and an information of socio-economic status of the plurality of users;   identifying one or more decision areas in real time on the road network based on the first plurality of traffic inputs, wherein the decision areas are regions on the road network from where the plurality of users can enter at least one toll road of the one or more toll roads;   determining one or more users, of the plurality of users, approaching the one or more decision areas, based on the geo-locations of the plurality of users;   determining a probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road, based on the first plurality of traffic inputs, the second plurality of toll inputs, and the third plurality of user associated inputs;   calculating incentives on the toll prices to be offered to the one or more users to modify the probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road, wherein the incentives are calculated based on the first plurality of traffic inputs, the second plurality of the toll inputs, and the third plurality of user associated inputs; and   transmitting the calculated incentive to the one or more users when the one or more users are at the respective one or more decision areas.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the incentives comprise at least one of increasing the toll prices, decreasing the toll prices, providing round trip discounts, and providing non-monetary benefits. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein identifying the one or more decision areas comprises:
 determining traffic source and traffic sink based on the first plurality of traffic inputs;   determining a plurality of entrance points, exit points, and toll road locations from where traffic from the traffic source and traffic sink meet the one or more toll roads;   determining congestion levels at the plurality of entrance points, exit points and toll road locations based on the first plurality of traffic inputs; and   selecting one or more entrance points, exit points and toll road locations which fulfils a predetermined criteria, as the one or more decision areas.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprises dynamically updating the one or more decision areas based on the first plurality of traffic inputs and driving patterns of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprises maintaining a database of one or more of: the historical and real time decision areas, toll road geometry of the road network, toll locations on the road network, the plurality of first traffic inputs, the second plurality of toll inputs, and the third plurality of user associated inputs, and wherein the database is dynamically updated at a predefined time period. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprises:
 receiving historical incentives offered at the one or more decision areas, and 
 determining the probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road based on the historical incentives offered at the one or more decision areas. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the calculation of the incentives is further based on incentive inputs received from one or more tolling agencies, and current and historical revenues of the respective tolling agency. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprises:
 determining an event of the one or more users selecting the at least one toll road based on the transmitted incentives; 
 transmitting information associated with the event to the respective tolling agency; 
 verifying the event with the respective tolling agency; and 
 performing a payment of toll prices including incentives to the respective tolling agency from the one or more accounts associated with the one or more users, based on the verification of the event. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprises transmitting information associated with the incentives selected by the one or more users, to the respective tolling agency based on the determination of the event. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprises transmitting information associated with the incentives offered to the one or more users and the calculated probability of the one or more users taking the at least one toll road to the respective tolling agency.